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Hair care articles

Right Food For Beautiful And Shiny Hair
by Sheron Hopkins
Leafy vegetables are rich in iron and would surely help in creating the needed smooth and shiny look that everyone keeps talking about. It is very important to have a good diet as it is food for your hair and body.

Some of the common food habits which you can acquire is to have beets, green leafy vegetables (as mentioned above), broccoli, carrots, radish, mint, basil. You can have different types of salads to add freshness in your diet. Combination of herbs and vegetables just makes it a very healthy diet. If you want to digest your food better cook it tender enough to eat.

One must be having this impression that spices won’t be good for health but some spices like turmeric and cumin in your dish helps in your hair growth. Fruits in all form are an essential nutrient provider and should be part of your diet. Berries, citrus fruits, melons, grapes and small amount of raisins also help. Coconut helps in avoiding premature graying as well as hair fall.

You can quit some of the habits such as smoking, caffeine, aerated drinks which weaken your bones and also affect your hair too. Avoid constant brushing, combing your hair and be careful the way you treat your hair. By roughening up your hair it will damage your hair. Too much of hot water on your hair is not good. Stressing your hair in any manner is not good; blow drying too much is also not good.

Hair care tips

Hair Oil - A Need For Anyone And Everyone
by Sheron Hopkins
Oiling ones hair is one of the most important things, if we want to take care of our hair.
It is very necessary that hair is given proper treatment which would mean a massage with some of the most beneficial oils.

Having the right kind of oil for your hair is very important and so is oiling your hair. Many of us have a hectic schedule due to which, oiling and washing our hair holds the last priority. If you want healthy hair and one which lasts longer - oiling is the best remedy.

There are so many oils in the market which tells you tales about the benefits it provides.

Weight loss articles

Easy Snack Ideas for a Healthy Diet
by Erin Rogers
Most experts agree that snacking is a part of a balanced and healthy diet, as long as the snacks donÕt pile on empty calories. Like any other part of your diet, it's important to put some thought into what kind of snacks to have on hand; otherwise it's all too easy to pick something high-calorie, high-fat, or high-sugar.
It's a good idea to not let yourself get too hungry before eating a meal or snack, since this is a surefire way to encourage overeating. Drinking sufficient water throughout the day (8-10 glasses is generally recommended) will not only serve to keep you well-hydrated, but will also help you feel less hungry. Another good idea is to include some protein with your snacks, as this will help keep you feeling full for a longer period of time.
Following are some ideas for different types of snacks. You may be hungry for different kinds of snacks at different times, or on different days. Pick what sounds best, what you have on hand, and what fits best into your eating plan or strategy.

Crunchy/Salty:

• Flavored popcorn or rice cakes
• Pretzels (with or without some honey mustard dip)
• Light microwave popcorn
• Baked tortilla chips with salsa

Fruits& Veggies:

• An apple (with or without some caramel dipping sauce)
  
• Sliced strawberries with fat-free half and half
  
• Raw veggies (try a dip with ranch seasoning and fat-free sour cream)
  
• Frozen grapes

Dairy:

• String cheese
  
• Light yogurt
  
• Chocolate milk (made with lowfat milk)
  
• Cottage cheese with canned pineapple

Drinks:

• Banana-chocolate whip (In a blender, combine 1 cup fat-free milk, 1 small banana, and a squeeze of chocolate syrup. Optional: toss in a few ice cubes for a frostier concoction)

• Orange whip (In a blender, combine, 1 cup orange juice, 1 carton orange nonfat yogurt, and a few ice cubes)
• Light Root Beer Float (Diet root beer with 1 cup lowfat ice cream
  
• Steaming mug of fat-free hot chocolate/cocoa (with added calcium)

Sweets:

• 2 whole wheat fig bars (look for these in the organic food section)
  
• 2 lowfat graham crackers spread with 1 T. chocolate frosting
  
• 3 HersheyÕs kisses
  
• Animal crackers (1/2 small box) and a cup of lowfat milk

I recommend keeping a list of your favorite healthy snacking ideas, either on your refrigerator, in your purse, on your computer, or even your PDA. Sometimes it's hard to think of a good snack option. With your list, youÕll never have to worry again and it will help with shopping, too!

10 Dieting Tips to Waste That Weight!
Randy Mclean
1. The first step you should take is to adopt healthier eating habits. Not only will you gain more food volume this way  but you can use natural low calorie seasonings such as onions to improve the taste. This is proven for long term health and fat loss while removing the strain of dieting itself.

2. When preparing meat, always trim the fat off of it. Or if it is something like chicken, remove the skin. If that is too bland chop it up and add it to something like rice!

3. Find someone to 'report' to. People tend to be more dedicated when they know after a week or two they need to check in with someone. Find someone to walk with for example, a close friend or even a diet buddy. Share your goals! Trying to do things on your own can sometimes be a lot harder.

4. Write down what you eat and stick with it. You'd be surprised at how many extra things you might be eating if you don't write your menu down. Either plan ahead with your food intake or start keeping a food journal just to see!

5. If you must fry things, use a non-fat cooking spray. This will save you many calories versus cooking with oil. For example, one tablespoon of cooking oil contains 120 calories! Whereas a 2.4 second spray of PAM contains only 16 calories.

6. Don't ever give up! Never view yourself as a failure. The only time you fail is when/if you quit. It may take more research or a different approach but it 'will' happen. Statistics show that most people do not succeed their first time trying. Nothing can take the place of persistence! Not intelligence, not talent, nothing! Everything else is secondary.

7. Remember that diet and exercise are a 50/50 ratio. If one or the other is missing you will be less likely to succeed! You can exercise until you pass out but if you are taking in too many calories you won't see dramatic changes in your appearance. And if you don't exercise your body will more likely use muscle for energy rather than fat. Aerobic exercise burns fat! Starvation eats up muscle!

8. Concentrate on fat loss, not weight loss. Your appearance is what counts, not how much you weigh. Since muscle is heavier than fat you might be surprised! And remember, muscle burns calories! So eat regularly and don't skip meals. If you wait more than 4 hours your metabolism starts to slow down.

9. Women tend to gain fat around the glutes and thighs. Men gain it on their stomach and around the waist. The reason is due to a lack of circulation in those areas. Fat is not taken into the bloodstream as efficiently as other areas. That is why besides a long term fat loss program, fat burning agents such as ephedrine help. Blood thinning agents such as aspirin also help. But make sure to read the labels, instructions and warnings before using any supplement!

10. The real key to losing weight is consistency. If you start missing meals or skipping workouts your progress will slow down to the point of discouragement. How bad do you want it? Find a good program and stick with it. Remember, you get out of it what you put into it!

Weight loss tips
1. Exercise is essential for weight loss
It's nothing new, but exercise is probably the most important predictor of whether you will succeed at long term weight loss and weight loss maintenance. In order for exercise to be helpful in weight loss, you should strive for a minimum of five 30 minute sessions per week. The good news is that recent research has shown that three 10 minute sessions in a day are as good as one 30 minute session. This helps many in combating the old "no time for exercise" excuse. Be certain to find something you enjoy. You'll be more apt to stick with it. Try walking with a friend, joining an intramural sports league, participating in outings with a group like The Sierra Club, or trying some classes at your local gym. Once you give exercise a chance, you will begin to enjoy its positive benefits on your psyche as well; you will literally become "hooked."
Having trouble getting a workout in? Why not try one of these Diet Channel recommended programs:

• 15 minute boot camp workout
• Power workout for busy executives
• 10 minute workout for busy moms

2. Weight loss and weight training
We chose to list this separately from the "exercise" category because of the significant weight loss benefits attached to weight training in and of itself. The basic equation is this: the more muscle tissue you have, the more calories you will burn. This is why world class weight lifters must eat thousands of calories a day to maintain their weight. Muscle is active tissue, fat is not. Thus, muscle "burns" a significant number of calories each day for its own maintenance. In her book Strong Women Stay Slim, Miriam Nelson, a Tufts University researcher, showed that a group of women who followed a weight loss diet and did weight training exercises lost 44% more fat than those who only followed the diet. While aerobic activity can help burn calories, muscle's where it's at when it comes to giving your metabolism a significant daily boost even at rest.

3. Keep a diary for triggers that hinder weight loss
Keeping a food diary can be a huge asset in successful weight loss. Devote some time each day to record what you have eaten and how much, your hunger level prior to eating, and any feelings or emotions present at the time. A food diary can provide a large amount of self-awareness. It can identify emotions and behaviors that trigger overeating, foster greater awareness of portion sizes, and help you discover your personal food triggers. Study any patterns that emerge from your food diary and identify where you may be able to make more healthful changes. A food diary provides an added benefit of keeping you focused on and committed to your goals. Start keeping a food diary today by printing our food diary.

4. Stay focused on being healthy, not on becoming thin
Many people become more successful at long term weight loss when their motivation changes from wanting to be thinner to wanting to be healthier. Change your mindset to think about selecting foods that will help your body's health rather than worrying about foods that will affect your body's weight. The Food Pyramid offers a basic outline of the types and amounts of food you should eat each day to give your body the nutrients it needs for optimal health.

5. Find out why you overeat
All too often overeating is triggered by stress, boredom, loneliness, anger, depression and other emotions. Learning to deal with emotions without food is a significant skill that will greatly serve long term weight control. The Solution, a book and national program developed by Laurel Mellin, RD, helps participants to identify their eating triggers and respond to them without food. A research study showed that the participants in this program demonstrated a better rate of long term weight loss maintenance than those who simply diet and/or exercise and don't address behavioral and emotional issues. Chronic over-eaters and "emotional eaters" can be significantly helped by learning new behavioral skills such as those Mellin presents. You can also seek help with behavioral and emotional eating issues from a licensed counselor or psychologist in your area.

6. Weight loss support: join a weight management group
A big key in long term weight control comes from receiving encouragement and support from others. You can check to see if groups such as Jenny Craig offer programs and resources in your areas. You may also wish to check with your local hospital to see if their registered dietitian conducts group weight loss programs.

7. Weight loss and portion control
With the advent of "super-size" meals and increasingly huge portions at restaurants, our concept of normal serving sizes is a distant memory. Be mindful of the amounts of food you consume at a sitting. When necessary, divide your food in half and ask for a take home bag. It is all too easy to be a "plate cleaner" even when served enormous portions. Learn to pay attention to your hunger level and stop eating when you feel comfortably full, not stuffed.

8. Lose weight slowly with small changes
Try to remember that "losing 15 pounds in two weeks" is nothing to celebrate. It is important to realize that the more quickly weight is lost, the more likely the loss is coming from water and muscle, not fat. Since muscle tissue is critical in keeping our metabolism elevated, losing it actually leads to a decrease in the amount of calories we can each day without gaining weight. Fat loss is best achieved when weight is lost slowly. Strive for a weight loss of no more than 1-2 pounds per week. One pound of weight is equivalent to 3500 calories. By making small changes like eliminating 250 calories a day from food and expending 250 calories a day from exercise, you can lose one pound (of mostly fat) per week. You can calculate how much time you need to exercise to burn 250 calories by clicking here. You can calculate your caloric needs by clicking here, and then subtract 250 from that number.

9. Eating slowly can lead to weight loss
Did you ever notice that thin people take an awfully long time to eat their food? Eating slowly is one method that can help take off pounds. That's because from the time you begin eating it takes the brain 20 minutes to start signaling feelings of fullness. Fast eaters often eat beyond their true level of fullness before the 20 minute signal has had a chance to set in. The amount of calories consumed before you begin to feel full can vary significantly depending on how quickly you eat. So slow down, take smaller bites and enjoy and savor every tasty morsel.

10. Weight loss through eating less fat - but do it wisely
We've known for some time that limiting high fat foods in the diet can be helpful with weight loss. That's because fats pack in 9 calories per gram compared to only 4 calories per gram from proteins or carbohydrates. To many, the message to limit fats implied an endorsement to eat unlimited amounts of fat-free products. Just to clarify, fat-free foods have calories too. In some cases fat-free foods have as many calories as their fat laden counterparts. If you eat more calories than your body uses, you will gain weight. Eating less fat will help you to lose weight. Eating less fat and replacing it with excessive amounts of fat-free products will not.
For more information on high-fat foods you should continue to eat, even when trying to lose weight, see the following article from TheDietChannel: Healthy and Fat? 5 High-Fat Foods You Should Not Avoid.
Before beginning any diet or fitness program, consult your physician.

Skin care articles

Stress and Skin Care
by Sheron Hopkins
Being stressed out is not bad at all, that is when the factors are nothing to be worried about.
Each person requires stressors in his or her life in order to keep them flexible to the possible challenges that might come. There are a lot of daily activities which are worth performing even if they result to great stress. This can be engaging in sports, solving problems, or settling household bills. When you are stressed out, it is not the stress factor which burns you out, but the way that you deal with it.

When you are under great pressure and you feel stressed, this might lead to the development of skin problems.
In turn, the complexion of your skin may be damaged. It will get blotchy, wrinkly and dry. When you are always anxious and tensed, it will result to the release of androgens which are responsible for activating the glands which produce oil. Because of this, you will experience acne or pimple breakout. Or else, your oil glands will produce excessive amounts of oil, making your skin oily.

Other than androgens, there are also other types of hormones which are released by your body. The secretion of these certain hormones is your body’s way of responding to your emotional or mood changes. As a result, the features of your skin (like tone, elasticity, and color) are influenced. The circulation of your blood towards your capillaries, underneath your skin, is also affected. Other than these, the formation of new hair and skin cells might also be affected.

Since the health of your skin is related with stress, it is very essential that you know how to deal with stress effectively. There are a lot of tips which will help you know how to handle various stress factors. On the other hand, there are also stress management tips which will help you care for your skin the natural way.

The following skin care tips will help you manage the stress of your daily activities:

Herbs and Aromatherapy – you can use these regularly in order to induce serenity and relaxation to the mind. Among the herbs which have great therapeutic effects are: chamomile, lavender, jasmine, marjoram, rose, and sandalwood. When you are lethargic due to stress, you can use essential herbs which stimulate the senses. These may include peppermint and rosemary. You can add these to your warm bath before you go to sleep. Or else, you can pour essential oils to your handkerchief, for you to sniff. On the other hand, you can also dilute it with base oil and gently massage it on your skin.

Breathing exercises – there are various kinds of breathing exercise tips which enable you to think clearly, enhance blood circulation, and alleviate moods. As a matter of fact, there are a lot of experts on stress reduction who thinks that when you breathe deeply, you are relaxing your mind.

Bach flower remedies – when you are deeply stressed out, this method is great for lessening the negative effects. It also helps bring back your positive mental attitude, in order to allow you to find an answer to your problems.

Summer Beauty Tips
by Sheron Hopkins
What is a woman to do in the middle of a hot day in a beach, soaking in the sun, sand, and sea smells of a dreamy summer day? To have fun, of course, but coupled with that is the anxiety that something may not just be right with all the sun glares and exposures she has to endure, from scalp to skin, throughout the day.

First, let us talk about your hair.
One expert believes that summer is a very good time of the year to highlight those hairs. You could do it yourself or visit a trusted hair colorist in your neighborhood. But beware: lightening hair through lemon juice, like in those curious high school days, is an effective lightening agent, but as a drying agent as well.

Then, we go to the issue of the skin, as it is the most exposed part of the body during the crazily hot days of summer, where one gets to wear those bathing suits and light clothing.
This has an easy solution, it is almost overlooked: a very good, dermatologically recommended moisturizer that is also a sun block at the same time. Actually, it is always very helpful to keep a moisturizer in your pouch whether the sun is up like in summer or not. It keeps you ready to apply it when the first application has been washed through the flurry of one's routine activities. It helps your skin maintain its suppleness throughout one busy day.

Speaking of sun blocks or sunscreens, please don't forget to cover the entire part of your body. It is not enough that you spread a layer in your face and forget the rest of your body. Just dare to imagine that while your face looks young, it is your hands and feet that look old. It's not different from a smooth face but a sunburned back. We don't want our face to be inconsistent with our limbs. So remember this: don't forget to protect the other parts.

While we are talking of the skin, it would also be pleasing if one really picks a self-tanner very well. It is helpful advice that not all self-tanners out their in the market works the same way for everybody.

Since summer is filled with bold days, one should also go with bolder nail polishes and colors, in general. Also make sure that your summer shade goes well with your sandals. We don't one foreshadowing the other. Remember: in the middle of the summer heat, it is always better if one goes bolder.

There are still many things that one could do to make summer more interesting and anxiety-free. In the end, it's always up to a woman how she wants to go through one dreamy summer day.

Skin care tips

Sun and Skin
We all know we need to protect our skin from the sun's harmful rays. Of course, it's impossible to avoid the sun — who wants to hide indoors when it feels so great to get outside and be active? And the sun's not all bad, anyway: Sunlight helps our bodies create vitamin D. So follow these tips when you're outdoors to help manage sun exposure:

• Wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, even if it's cloudy or you don't plan on spending a lot of time outdoors. If you sweat a lot or go swimming, reapply sunscreen every 2 to 3 hours (even if the bottle says the sunscreen is waterproof).

• Choose a sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Look for the words "broad spectrum protection" or UVA protection in addition to the SPF of 15 or greater. Select a sunscreen that says "nonacnegenic" or "noncomedogenic" on the label to help keep pores clear.

• The sun's rays are strongest between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, so make sure you reapply sunscreen frequently and take breaks indoors if you can. If your shadow is longer than you are tall, then it's a safer time to be in the sun (you should still wear sunscreen, though).

• Apply more sunscreen (with higher SPF) when you're around reflective surfaces like water, snow, or ice.

• We all know that the sun can damage skin, but did you know it can contribute to eye problems, too? Protect your face and eyes with a hat and sunglasses that provide 100% UV protection.

• Some medications, such as prescription acne medications or birth control pills, can increase your sensitivity to the sun, so if you're taking medication, increase your sun protection.

• If you want the glow of a tan, try faking it with self-tanners or salon tanning treatments. Avoid tanning beds, though, because although manufacturers claim that tanning beds are free of UVB rays, they still use harmful UVA rays.
  

Cold Sores
Cold sores usually show up as tender "pimples" on the lips. They are caused by a type of herpes virus (HSV-1, which most often is not sexually transmitted) so they are contagious from person to person. Once you get this virus it stays in your body, meaning you'll probably get cold sores every now and then throughout your life. Here are ways you can help prevent cold sores from making an appearance (or reappearance if you've had them in the past):

• Avoid getting cold sores in the first place by not sharing stuff like lip balm, toothbrushes, or drinks with other people who might have cold sores. The virus that causes cold sores is transmitted through the nose (in mucus) and the mouth (in saliva).

• People who have the virus know that cold sores can flare up from things like too much sun, stress, or being sick. Just one more reason to lather on that suntan lotion, eat well, exercise, and get plenty of sleep!

If you do have a cold sore, here are some tips for keeping yourself comfortable:

• Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen if the cold sores are painful.

• Suck on ice pops or cubes to ease pain and keep cold sores cool.

• Stay away from acidic foods (like oranges, tomatoes, and lemonade) and salty, spicy foods, which can cause irritation.

• Don't pick at cold sores while you're waiting for them to go away. They may bleed or become infected with bacteria.

Usually, cold sores go away on their own after a week or two. But if you get them frequently or they're a problem, talk to your doctor or dermatologist, who may be able to prescribe medication to alleviate symptoms and shorten the amount of time cold sores last.

Eczema
Eczema is a condition that causes skin to become red, itchy, and dry. If you have eczema, you might notice that you are prone to getting itchy rashes — especially in places like where your elbows and knees bend or on your neck and face. The symptoms of eczema can vary from person to person. Though you can't cure eczema forever, you can take steps to prevent it from flaring:

• Stay away from things like harsh detergents, perfumed soaps, and heavily fragranced lotions that tend to irritate the skin and trigger eczema.

• Because water tends to dry out the skin, take short, warm showers and baths. If you're going to have your hands in water for a long time (like when you're washing dishes or your car), try wearing gloves.

• Soothe your skin with regular applications of a fragrance-free moisturizer to prevent itching and dryness. Creams generally moisturize a bit better and last longer than lotions for most people. Creams work best if applied when the skin is slightly wet, like just after bathing.

• Be careful which fabrics you wear. Cotton is good because it's breathable and soft. (But if you are exercising, some of the newer synthetic materials actually keep you drier and are better for you than cotton.) Try to stay away from materials like wool or spandex that may cause irritation or allergic reactions.

• Keep stress in check. Because stress can lead to eczema flares, try activities like yoga or walking after a long day to keep your stress levels low.

• If you wear makeup, look for brands that are free of dyes and fragrances that can aggravate eczema.

If you're having trouble managing your eczema, talk to a dermatologist, who can suggest ways to better control it.

Other Skin Conditions
Warts are tiny skin infections caused by viruses of the human papilloma virus (HPV) family. There's no way to prevent warts from occurring (other than avoiding contact with people who have them). But if you do get them, don't rub, pick, or scratch them because you can spread the virus and get new warts. Some over-the-counter medications containing special acids can help get rid of warts, but it's always a good idea to see your doctor before trying one. If you find warts in your genital area, you should see your doctor, who can recommend the best treatment method for that sensitive area.
Another type of wart-like viral infection is molluscum contagiosum. (It's not as scary as its name sounds!) Like warts, it can be transmitted through scratching and sexual contact.
Fine white or purplish lines on the skin called stretch marks are pretty common in most teens. Stretch marks are formed when the tissue under your skin is pulled by rapid growth or stretching, like during puberty. Stretch marks usually fade on their own over time. Talk to a dermatologist if you're concerned about them.
Because our skin is the most visible reflection of what's going on in our bodies, people equate healthy skin with beauty. But healthy skin is about more than just good looks; it's essential to our survival. So keep your skin glowing with the right skin care techniques and by eating well and getting lots of exercise.